Monday, December 12, 2011

Feature Spotlight on The Literary Reading World of @sylviahubbard1: Bumped By Sibylla Nash @starbabyla via @aambookclub

0970170637.main Bumped 

 

Bumped By Sibylla Nash

What happens when you’re blindsided by betrayal and happy hour is no longer an option?

 Elle Nixon seems to have the perfect life.  As a music PR maven and party girl on the L.A. social scene, she attends the hottest parties and has a roster of artists that reads like the who’s who of Billboard magazine. 

Her upwardly mobile bound boyfriend lavishes her with plenty of gifts and attention until he disappears…during the middle of a high-profile fraud investigation into his investment firm by the FBI. Add an unplanned pregnancy to the mix and suddenly, it’s not so fun anymore to walk a mile in her Louboutins.

Will Elle’s search for answers help or destroy her as she confronts the past and tries to reinvent her future?

Excerpt:


AFTER A FULL DAY of sightseeing in Paris with eight writers and then a sound check at the
famed Olympia, I wanted nothing more than to close my eyes and sleep. Long and hard. I unlocked
my hotel room, took two steps in and flung myself face down on the bed, landing on top of the
scratchy, green bedspread with my high heels and short trench coat still on. My room was the length
of my arm span, which was fine on a day like today. Tiny, dark, enclosed spaces couldn’t make me
feel any worse.
 
I buried my face in the pillow and tried to stave off the nausea. It felt like the beginning of the
flu and it had followed me from Los Angeles to Paris, and had dug its heels in at the hotel along the
Champs Elysees. It didn’t help that Paris hadn’t gotten the memo that it was spring, or maybe I
didn’t read the memo that said to pack layers of clothes. Either way, it was damp and chilly outside.
 
It was hard to look chic in goose bumps, no matter how cute my shoes were, and my Louboutins
were hot; save for the beating they were taking from all the cobblestone walkways.
 
I checked the time on my cell phone. I had less than two hours before I had to wrangle
everyone back on the bus for the main purpose of the trip, watching one of the biggest hip hop
artists in the world, Cameron perform at the Olympia, one of the oldest concert halls in Paris. He
was signed to Savage Rhythms, the record label that employed me as a publicist and subsidized my
stiletto habit.
 
My phone chimed and a text message from my friend Justine came through. Growing up, we
used to live four doors down from one another in New Jersey and had been as inseparable as cake
and ice cream at a birthday party. Now, living on opposite coasts, we were like caviar and a bottle of
hundred-year-old scotch, only on special occasions.
 
Happy B-day Ellie! Hope ur enjoying ur trip in city of love!  :> :>)
 
She included her usual assortment of happy faces and other crazy icons that always made me
wonder if she dictated her text messages to her 12-year-old.
 
Bleh! Another birthday. I grabbed a pillow and put it over my face. Born four years apart, my
sister Evie and I shared the same birthday. I’d much rather pretend the day didn’t exist. I moved the
pillow and rolled over on my stomach to send Justine a quick message.
35. Yaay. I’m working & how much fun can it really b w/my man on another continent?
 
Before she could reply, my phone rang.
 
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!” Diego Rivera’s baritone sang in my ear with
only the slightest of interference from across the Atlantic. I smiled, happy to avert a trip down
memory lane. Even after two and a half years of dating, the sound of his voice still made my
stomach tingle with erratic butterflies…or it could have been the escargot from the other night. Two
words. Never. Again. 

Sibylla Nash is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and author. She has written about a variety of topics that have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers.  She is also the author of several books including DreamCity, Baby Modeling & Beyond: From the Stroller to the Red Carpet and her newest novel, Bumped.  She holds a degree from the University of Southern California in print journalism and is the extremely proud mom of a young actress.  You can find her on the web at sibyllanash.com, divaluscious.com, starbabyla.com, bumpedthenovel.com on Facebook and tweets @starbabyla.

Get to Know the Author:

1.)    How did you begin my journey as an author?
 I started off as a freelance writer but as an avid reader, novels were always in my future. This is my fifth book – all independently released -  and it’s been a long work-in-progress! When I released my first novel <gasp> eleven years ago, life was pretty different.  The author tag line on the back of that book (DreamCity) read something like “Sibylla Nash lives in Los Angeles with her dog.” Since then, I became a mom, the dog died, I moved back to NJ and then moved back to LA.  Life happens and I think that’s part of what helps one grow as a writer.  Experiencing and living life and then obsessing and rehashing the details, exploring the “what if’s” and “could be’s” in the pages of the worlds we create.

 2.)  What compelled or inspired you to write this book?
 Who hasn’t had that one relationship where you’re scratching your head after the fact asking yourself, how could I not see this?  I wanted to explore betrayal in such way that seemed more organic. You really go through stages of grief after being betrayed and I wanted to show a character dealing with the ultimate betrayal, which is not necessarily the physical, cheating act. I wanted to take this character from point A of thinking everything’s great to point B where she’s like oh my gosh, who is this person? I can rattle off a list of women in that past few years that have been through a very public and humiliating scandal like Sandra Bullock, Maria Shriver, Elin Woods, etc where they’re with someone who totally turns out to be so different with the emotional and physical cheating.   For the public, that’s the big story but for them, life goes on and they have to pick up the pieces.

 3.)  How do you develop the plot?
 I use index cards, and I like to break the story up into three parts, which is from Syd Fields screenwriting technique. I plot it out and usually deviate from many of my plot points, but I always have an idea of where I’m going and I definitely know where I want to end up.

 4.)    How long did it take to write Bumped?
 Bumped has been a labor of love for quite a few years.  I always thought my second novel after DreamCity would be a sequel but the characters in Bumped demanded to be written. DreamCity was written before I became a mom and Bumped was written late at night, in between auditions for my daughter and play dates.  It has taken quite a few years and revisions and was finally birthed in August 2011.

 5.)    What types of books do you like to read?
 I have a very eclectic taste and will read everything from horror, mystery, thriller, self-help, history and anything else that catches my eye.  I’ll read it on the Kindle or in printed form, whichever I can get my hands on first.  I’m not a die-hard purist and love the opportunities that e-books offer.

 6.)  How do you feel about selling digital books vs. selling in a brick and mortar store?
 I love it!  That coupled with social media allows me to find and connect with a wider audience that was harder to reach with my previous books. It certainly levels the playing field and allows new voices to be heard without having to fight through the gatekeepers of the old guard.

 7.)  What’s next?
 I’m updating my guide, Baby Modeling & Beyond. So much has changed since I wrote it six years ago and there seems to be an even bigger market of moms who are curious about getting their kids started in the business.  I’m also re-releasing my first novel DreamCity at the end of the year.  There’s a fun sequel to that which will be out next year.  I’m staying pretty busy.  I have so many stories in my head bouncing around that are demanding to get out and strut their stuff on the page or screen.

 Find Sibylla Nash at:
sibyllanash.com, bumpedthenovel.com, facebook.com/bumpedbysibyllanash, Twitter @starbabyla

Email address: sibylla22@gmail.com

Buy Book at: http://www.amazon.com/Bumped-Sibylla-Nash/dp/0970170637/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318560856&sr=8-1

Monday, December 05, 2011

Feature Spotlight on The Literary Reading World of @sylviahubbard1: Tears of A Hustler by Silk @good2gobooks via @aambookclub

 

Tears of a Hustler PT 3



Tears of a Hustler Part 3 By Silk White

Tears of a Hustler 3 picks up right where part two left off. Things get serious when Marvin the leader of a powerful up coming gang decides he wants to take over Pauleenas empire. With her back against the wall Pauleena defends her territory by any means necessary even if it means killing everything moving. With her main soldier gone she has step up to the plate and get her hands dirty. The streets will rain money or blood it s their choice but giving up her throne is not an option. Who will be the last hustler standing? Once against Silk White takes readers on a ride they wont ever forget.

Excerpt:
 Four all black Denali SUVs pulled up back to back in front of the projects. Pauleena sat in the third SUV with her legs crossed sipping on a glass of wine.  Today was a day in her life that she would never forget.  “You sure this where this cat lives?”
“Yes I got a man in the staircase right now who’s been watching Carl’s crib all day” Eraser Head told her.
Pauleena sighed loudly.  “Let’s go get this shit over with.”  Her big Muslim body guard Malcolm quickly hopped out of the driver’s seat, and walked to the back door, and opened it for his boss.  Pauleena stepped out looking like a million bucks followed by Eraser Head.  Seven black Muslims all wearing black suits hopped out of the SUVs and escorted Pauleena in the building, and up to Carl’s floor.  Eraser Head and Malcolm kicked open Carl’s front door, then quickly barged inside.
Carl sat in his couch watching TV when his front door came crashing open, followed by men busting inside with guns pointed in his face.  “What’s all this about?”  Carl asked with a confused look on his face.
“You know exactly what this is about” Pauleena said entering the apartment.  From the look on Carl’s face she could tell that he didn’t know who she was, but he was definitely about to find out.  “Did you kill G-Money?”
“Yes I did” Carl said confidently.  “He disrespected, and violated me in front of my son, and for that he had to pay.”
Pauleena smiled.  “And now you have to pay” she said as she pulled a .380 from the small of her back.  Just as she was about to pull the trigger, little Bobby came running out the back room.  “No please don’t hurt my daddy” he cried as he hugged his father.
“You kill me in front of my son?”  Carl asked looking Pauleena dead in her eyes.  He didn’t fear no man or woman, but if it was his time to go he didn’t want it to be in front of his son.
Pauleena looked down at Carl with a straight face, and pulled the trigger blowing his brains out right in front of little Bobby.  She then trained her gun on the young boy, and sent bullets into the boy’s boney chest killing him instantly.  “A body for a body” she said as she turned, handed her gun to Malcolm then made her exit.
Back in the Denali everyone was quiet, they knew Pauleena had just crossed the line, but they knew she had to do what she had to do.  If the streets spotted any signs of weakness, every stick up kid in the world would be looking for her, and hustlers would be looking to take her spot.  Pauleena was on top, and she planned on doing whatever needed to be done to stay on top.
“I heard Marvin is supposed to be having a birthday party next week” Eraser Head said breaking the silence.
“Word where at?”  Pauleena asked helping herself to another glass of wine.
“Some club downtown.” 
“Keep me posted” Pauleena said with a smile.  “I wouldn’t miss that party for the world.”

A native of Harlem, New York, Silk White began his writing career in 2006. He is the author of the three part Urban Fiction series Tears of a Hustler and Co-Owner of Good2Go Publishing and Good2Go Films. Silk has No Way Out and Black Barbie as a film credit under Good2Go Films and in his spare time, loves to write and act. He is currently producing a new movie and is hard at work on his next novel.

Interview with Silk White

1. Tell me about the finale to your critical acclaim trilogy Tears of a Hustler?
This book is the finale to a trilogy that was written 2 years ago.  We took our time with releasing part 2&3 to help build up our fan base in between releases.  It’s a classic finale that all our loyal fans have been waiting for.  I promised I wouldn’t let them down and according to the reviews we have received so far, everyone is happy.  Check amazon.

2. What made you decide to start your own publishing company rather than signing with an establish publisher?
Well after Tears of a Hustler PT 1 was released I had several offers on the table, but from a business standpoint it just made more sense to release my titles under my own company.  In the short term it’s a lot of work because you have to build your fan base one fan at a time, because you don’t have any distribution.  But once you’ve established your brand like we have, you make 100% of the profit. At the rate we’re going we should be one of the biggest independent african american owned publishing companies out there in a few years.  We’ve reached over 70,000 households in two years with no help.   Right now we have good2go publishing and good2go films our movie Production Company and Third Lane Marketing.

3. What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Writing was a natural process for me, growing up in the environment that I grew up in and my life experiences help enhanced my already vivid imagination.  My ability to translate my imagination thru writing was a god gifted talent that I discovered when I was going thru unforeseen circumstances.

4. What’s the best thing about being an author?
I really appreciate all the love and support that I get from the fans.  They are the ones that keep me motivated.  It’s amazing to see all the support that I get from all parts of the country, outside the country also. Shout out to all my UK Fans. I never thought that one day my work would have reached over 70,000 households.

5. What are you working on now?
Well I just wrapped up my 5th book which is slated to be released Nov 25 2011.  Its called The Teflon Queen.   So be on the look out for that. You can pre-order an autograph copy now from www.good2gopublishing.com  I also just finished shooting my 2nd movie under good2go films its called Black Barbie.  The first movie is called No Way Out you can get that at www.good2gofilms.com

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
This piece of advice is not just for writers but any aspiring entrepreneurs out there.  Especially, the youth coming from underprivileged communities.  Sometimes in life we get a bad hand to play with. You have to make the best out of the hand you’re given. The best piece of advice I can give is, spend all your time and energy focusing on accomplishing your goals whatever it may be, you’re going to get results.  Surround yourself with good people you trust, Sleep 5hrs work 19hrs.
I just want to say Thanks to everyone out there for the love and support.  Keep supporting me and Good2go Publishing

Silk White


Tears Of A Hustler 2
Tears Of A Hustler

Find Silk at:
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Silkwhite212
twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/good2gobooks
author site: www.good2gopublishing.com
blog: http://www.good2gopublishing.com/blog
Email address for readers to contact you : G2g@good2gopublishing.com
Buy Books at http://www.amazon.com/Tears-Hustler-PT-Silk-White/dp/0578084740/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Saturday, December 03, 2011

Literary Spotlight: THE ART OF DECEIT. BY FABIOLA JOSEPH @soulofawriter via @aambookclub

THE ART OF DECEIT. BY FABIOLA JOSEPH

Sex, drugs, lies and video tape all dwell in the shadows of hip hop. A world that is glamorous and alluring can blind its participants to certain truths. This euphoric illusion which is full of money, women, and power, can also be deceiving. You start to believe that the fame will last forever. That the people around you are really your friends, and that the scandalous woman at your side really loves you for the person that you are. Stardom can become dangerous for the naïve souls who rise to success without armor. Tangie, who has mastered The Art Of Deceit, slithers her way into the heart of many and into the wallets of even more, her latest victim being Hip Hop’s newest sensation Tay’von-Too Fine- Miller. Tay’von is told by his record label that he needs a better looking woman on his arm because the public will deem his plus size girlfriend unbefitting for a rising star. So he pulls Tangie into his world hoping to use her for her looks, only to get rid of her when he is done. But he has highly underestimated her. Her charm is hypnotic, that of a snake charmer, and as strong as the magic from a voodoo priest. Once she has cast her spell, she is sure to bring any man or woman down to their knees. She rules with a blackened heart and shows no mercy to people like Shamika, the spiteful girlfriend of equally talented but not as successful rapper Black Dialect. Tangie will stop at nothing to secure her lifestyle, even if that means shaking hands with a record label owner who Tay’von has proclaimed a sworn enemy. Carmello wants Tay’von to sign to his record label, and Tangie wants revenge. Together they hatch a plan that will give them both what they want. What will happen when Tay’von, his bodyguard, the sexy R&B tour mate Amira, and Carmello all fall under Tangie’s spell? Death, Debauchery, and Deceit, now, if only everything would go as planned.


Excerpt for The Art Of Deceit:

 I pulled her hair back and handed her a napkin for her bleeding lips.
             “Now pull yourself together Mika, everyone is watching. Don’t let them see you break down.”
I said as I continued to whisper.
             “Tay’von called a limo for you. I want you to go back to the house and get your things packed.”
     She looked at me as if she didn’t want to leave Miami just yet.
             “Now you know that you can’t stay anymore. Black is going to try and hurt you if you do. Just give him some time to cool off and get his mind right. But there is one favor I need you to do for me. After all that has happened, there’s just one thing that I want you to remember—.”She cut me off before I could make my grand statement.
             “But Tangie, I don’t know how this got out. I didn’t make a copy or anything. The only person that could have put this out is you know who.”
     I put my arms around her and got real close to her.
             “You may not know how this got out but I do.”
     She looked at me with shock on her face, I wanted to spit in it but that was too low class for me.
             “Come on Shamika, don’t look so surprised. Try and look like we’re having a normal conversation. If you don’t, I won’t tell you what I know.”
     She tried her best to keep it together but her body was shaking uncontrollably under my hand.
             “Look at me Shamika, cause I’m responsible for the tape getting leaked. That’s right, bitch, I did it.” She tried to pull away from my grip but I held on tight.
             “It fucking hurts doesn’t it? I have been setting this up since we were on the road. You fucked me over so now I’m fucking you with the biggest dick I can find. Tell me, how does it feel? Because I’m feeling damn good!”
             “YOU BITCH!”
     She screamed, but I didn’t break. I still kept the concerned look on my face and made myself look confused and hurt.
             “Calm down little Mika, don’t be so mad. You got to admit that you’ve had this coming. I’m the last bitch that you should have fucked with. You messed with my life so now I’m ruining yours. I hope that you never find a man to spend another dime on you again. I hope that life gets so bad for you that you’ll need to borrow money just to get a sandwich off the dollar menu at McDonald’s. Rot in hell you dirty bitch, and may you never rest in peace.”
     She was speechless as I let her arm go. The thought of me getting her first had never crossed her mind. It had just hit her that she had gravely underestimated me, and that bad choice was to her disadvantage. She had lost the game that she thought she played all too well. That’s why my motto has always been, before you sit down to play a game, you must not only know the rules to the game but you must also know all of your opponents, even if that means skipping a hand or two just to make sure you know their skill level. Having this knowledge gives you an upper hand every time, and an upper hand always wins the game.

                                                              PURCHASE YOUR COPY NOW                                                                                                                                                                                             
ABOUT THIS AUTHOR: Fabiola Joseph was raised in Silver Spring Maryland. While in Middle school, she found her passion for writing and wrote her first book Among Us. She has not stopped writing ever since. She continues to develop new stories and poems at her home in Florida.

Interview with the Author:

How did you get the idea for this book, The Art Of Deceit?

Answer. -  One day I was watching a rap video and it contained the normal rump shaking, enticing, gorgeous women that we are used to seeing when one of these videos are played. But the more I watched, the more I asked myself, what happens when “Cut” is yelled and the women go home? We all hear about the so called “groupies” but we don’t really know their story.

Did the success of the infamous SuperHead books encourage you to write this book?

Answer – Yes and no. She is a well known… how can I put this…. groupie and I know her story. But I didn’t want to do a “down and out, they all used me and now I am coming into my own” book. I wanted to do something different. I wanted to have fun with it. I wanted to have this character do all the things I would never do, say all the things that, as the poem at the end of the book says, get us “normal people” tongue-tied.  I wanted to portray a bad bitch that lives an “All or Nothing” lifestyle. And even then, I wanted to make sure that she had many layers to her. She may seem coldhearted and calculating on the outside, but deep within the lines, she has another side to her.

So what do you think the readers are going to think of her actions? This character Tangie, has a lot of sex, deceives, uses the people in her life to get what she wants, and seems to not have any remorse.  Do you think that this book sends out a bad message?

Answer – NO! I do not, and here is why. Nothing bad that is done in this book goes unpunished. In life, we all pay for our actions, good or bad. It may take minutes, an hour, a month, or years for it to come back, but it does. It may take Tangie, till book three, which will be the last in the series to get what’s coming to her, but that’s how life works. We never know where our actions may lead us, or the consequences. And as far as all of the sex, I made sure to put a disclaimer in the beginning of the book.

In The Art Of Deceit, one of Tangie’s love interest is a famous female R&B singer. And you also lightly touch on the issue of closeted gay rappers. How did you think this would impact the book and the readers?

Answer – Well, when I write, I don’t think. At the time that I wrote this book, I wasn’t so into typing. I used to say “I can’t flow if I’m not writing with a pen”. Things have changed. But when I wrote this book in 2008, I didn’t stop and think oh, what will people think if Tangie has sex with a woman, or what will they think once they find out that one of the rappers is on the DL. I just let my mind and my hand do the talking. There were times when I was writing this book that I couldn’t stop the pen from moving. There were times that something was happening, and in my heart, I wanted to stop. But my mind and hand were moving too fast. It was as if I was in a trance, a writing trance. So as far as giving those two issues too much thought,,,, I didn’t. I just let the story become what it was meant to be.

So as an author, how would you describe your writing style?

Answer – My style will evolve. It will grow and be different with each book. I don’t want to be that writer that is stuck in one place, telling the same story. My style will change with each character that forms in my head. If he or she is straight ghetto and in your face, well that will be the style of the book. I am very open to whatever comes to my mind, laid back, quiet, murderer, or bad ass bitch. But if I had to pick a style,,, I would just say RAW! I won’t sugarcoat anything. If it’s on my mind, it will be down on paper, no second guessing.

So in a way, is reading your book The Art Of Deceit, allowing the readers a chance to get a glimpse into your mind?

Answer – Most definitely. My books are on my mind even when I am asleep. And before I write or as I write, I see it all in my head, playing out like a movie. So yes, if you read a book that I wrote, you’re also getting to know a part of me, sometimes a part of me that I didn’t even know myself until that very moment it was inked or now typed on paper.


So where do you go from here, as far as your writing career?

Answer – My next project will be out early 2012 and was written with new comer Matthew Ramsey. I will
not say too much about that right now but that it’s just as hot as The Art of Deceit, so make sure to check it out. And after that, just more and more writing. I am already working on my third which I hope to release mid 2012. Writing for me is like breathing. I can’t live without it. So as long as I breathe, I will write.


Contact information:

 Facebook author page- http://facebook.com/Fabiola.Joseph3
 Twitter – @soulofawriter
Email – soulofawriter3@aol.com
—————————————————————-

Where to buy The Art Of Deceit.
E-book kindle – www.amazon.com/The-Art-Of-Deceit-ebook/dp/B005MGOY6S
Nook -  www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-deceit-fabiola-joseph/1105945594?ean=2940013416024&itm=1&usri=the%252bart%252bof%252bdeceit
E-store  – https://www.createspace.com/3691417
 Available in paperback at all three places.


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